Death's Choice

By Ammie Hawk

Disclaimer: Still put these in.

AN: So, this chapter was a bitch to write, but I somehow managed. Also, this is the last prewritten chapter that I have, so from here on out, I cannot promise regular updates. The muse is still with me, fortunately, but just hasn't been overly cooperative for the ideas I have for this fic. Anyway, if you're still with me, enjoy.

AN 2: Many of you have asked about when in series this takes place, and as I cannot find a clear timeline to add in dates, this fic starts about 6 months to maybe a year before Attack of the Clones.

Chapter 3: Echo Squad

When Kote exited his sleeping pod at morning bell the following morning, it was to find none of his squad present. That fact didn't actually surprise him, most mornings they were up and active before the wake up call, it was part of their training as commanders. No, what really surprised him was that he had slept till then, late night notwithstanding. He had too many of those over the years to let it affect him like this.

As he made his way down from his bunk, he spotted one of his squad, CT-411, Ponds, at the lockers, changing from his morning PT. The other looked up when he reached the floor. Kote gave him a brief nod by way of greeting, as he went to his own locker to prepare for the day.

"Feeling okay, Kote?" a dark brow rose curiously. "It's not like you to sleep this late.

"I'm fine," he answered, contemplating how best to approach this new situation. "I'll explain everything later, when we're all together."

"If you're sure…" Ponds' tone was laced with concern, but he wouldn't push.

Kote nodded once in affirmative. He was sure. He would tell his squad, he had to, but he would wait to do it when they were all together and there was no chance of them being overheard. Besides, telling them as a group, instead of individually, would leave no room for gossip to spread among them. And on top of that, the less times he had to relay the story the better.

When they had finished preparing for the day, the pair of them made their way to the mess for first-meal. They had just gotten their food and found seats when they were joined by CC-5052 and CC-1004, Bly and Gree respectively. The final member of Echo Squad, CC-3636, Wolffe, was undoubtedly still doing extra morning training. It was probably for the best though, the mess was not the best place for a private conversation.

"Hey, Kote," Bly leaned in slightly and kept his voice low, "you hear about Rex?"

"What about Rex?" it felt like a fist clenched around his heart, while his face remained perfectly blank, an automatic response to the question over the years.

"Well," Gree picked up the conversation, "scuttlebutt is he didn't return to his bunk after one of the trainers kept him late doing drills."

"Yeah," Ponds placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, another automatic response. "Speculation is that afterwards he got sent for reconditioning, or worse, decommissioning."

"I see," he took a deep breath, luckily he knew the truth, though he did want to run to the med bay just to make sure those speculations weren't true. "Well, you can alleviate the brothers' fears. Rex wasn't picked up by the long necks. Kix gave him medical leave for the day. And that's all I can say on the matter, for now."

"You know what happened," Gree stated more than asked.

"I know what happened," Kote acknowledged. "But we're not secure."

"Understood," the other three nodded, knowing they would get more out of him later, and returned to their meals.

As they finished and cleared their trays, Wolffe joined them, snagging a couple protein bars to eat. The group made their way out of the mess and toward their flash training modules. After a couple hours, they moved on to physical training, then was special training with Alpha-17. They were usually joined in this particular training by several others, including Rex.

Once the class had set up in the familiarity of the advanced training, the alpha clone made his way over to Kote. The younger male tried to maintain his focus under the scrutiny, but the truth was he needed to talk to Alpha anyway.

"You're slipping, Kote," the other crossed his arms over his chest as he came to a stop in front of him.

"Apologies, Alpha," he straightened instinctively into the training.

"Better," Alpha nodded. "Continue. Now, tell me why Rex is not joining us today. I know you know."

"He is in medical, sir," Kote answered automatically.

"And why is he in medical?" a dark brow rose in challenge. "Was a little extra training too much for him? If that is the case, perhaps his place among the ARC Troopers should be reconsidered."

"That is not the case, sir," he grit his teeth, this couldn't affect Rex's chances, he'd worked too hard to get where he was. "It's, uh, sensitive, sir."

"Explain," Alpha took a step forward, his voice dropping so only Kote could hear.

"Privately," brown eyes rose to lock challengingly with the older male's.

The other considered him for a full minute before extending his right arm, indicating Kote to precede him. The younger male straightened and began making his way toward the back of the room, where the showers were located. Once they were safely inside, and the door closed behind them, Alpha leaned against the wall next to the portal, his arms once again crossed over his chest and his gaze pointed. Kote automatically fell into parade rest before him.

"Now that we have privacy," Alpha began, "explain what Rex has gotten himself into this time."

"He hasn't gotten himself into anything, sir," he bristled slightly at the accusation. "A… situation arose that needed a viable distraction."

"And what situation is that?"

Kote took a deep breath, it was now or never, and he did trust Alpha, "A youngling was discovered in Rex's sleeping pod last night."

"A youngling?" a dark brow rose curiously. "You mean a cadet?"

"No, sir," he shook his head. "Kix determined he is not a clone."

"Not possible," Alpha frowned. "No trainer, aside from Prime, has a child, and none have brought any in from past missions. Prime and the alphas would've heard about it."

"Possible or not, it is what it is," Kote countered. "There is a non-clone youngling in medical with Rex as we speak."

"I see," the older male's eyes narrowed in thought. "What is your plan?"

"Discretion," he sighed. "We plan to keep him hidden for the time being, until we can figure something out."

"And how many know?"

"Aside from you," he slumped slightly, "myself, Kix, Rex, and probably the rest of Gamma Squad at this point. I also intend to inform Echo Squad as soon as the opportunity presents itself."

"Why the two squads?" Alpha asked.

"We—I felt it would be prudent to switch him between Rex's bunk and my own in random intervals to keep him hidden. We need the backing of our squads to make that possible."

"A good plan," the older male nodded, he'd be impressed if they could actually manage to pull it off. "As long as you trust everyone on your squads."

"We do," he stated firmly.

"And what do you have planned for during the day? Neither of you can fall behind in your own training, and you can't possibly hope to take him with you."

"That is… a bit more unclear," the younger male sighed heavily. "I know he cannot join the cadets fully, he would stand out too much, and draw attention from the trainers and long necks alike. However, I was hoping you would let him sit in on the cadet classes you teach, and possibly a couple of the other alphas."

"So it was always your intent to tell me," at his nod, Alpha smiled. "Your faith in me is… reassuring, Kote. I will allow him to sit in on my cadet classes, though I do expect him to work in them."

"Of course."

"And I will personally speak to some of the other alpha instructors and see if they will allow him in," he continued. "I will also see if I can't scrounge up some of Boba's old learning modules. If he is indeed not a clone, he will not have our enhanced learning capabilities."

"Thank you, sir," Kote visibly relaxed at his words.

Alpha nodded, "Bring him to me after first-meal tomorrow. I will have a schedule for him prepared for you and Rex by ARC Training. And keeping him a secret from the trainers and long necks has now become part of both your training."

"Very good, sir," he took a deep breath, that had been an easier sell than he'd thought, and made to head to the door.

"Oh, and Kote," the other's hand on his shoulder stopped him before he could leave, "I suggest he stay in your bunk tonight. I have it on good authority Gamma Squad will be inspected tomorrow, due to Rex's… absence."

The younger male gave an affirmative nod before exiting the room to resume what was left of the training session. As soon as the door closed behind him, Alpha slowly pushed off the wall until he was straightened fully.

"You catch all that Ninety-Nine?" his eyes traveled to the end of the row of lockers where the room turned to continue toward the showers.

"I did, Alpha," a hunched figure emerged from around the corner.

Ninety-Nine was not a typical clone. He was malformed, with a hump on his back and a pronounced limp in his step. The accelerated aging that had been programmed into all their DNA had apparently been miscalculated in him and had caused him to age at an alarming rate. So, while he had been decanted at the same time as the alphas, his physical age put him well over that of Prime.

His physical impairments had kept him from standard training, but Prime had used what influence he had to keep him from being decommissioned and instead had him working maintenance. The other trainers, and some of the other clones, treated him with contempt, but the majority knew his worth. Because he tended to be overlooked, he knew things others didn't, and would help his brothers in any way he could.

"Think you'll be able to help?" one of Alpha's brows rose curiously. "There will be large chunks of time where Kote, Rex, and myself will not be able to keep an eye on him."

"I'd be honored to keep an eye on Kote and Rex's new foundling," a lopsided grin graced his wizened features. "Though, you know we won't be able to keep it from the rest of the vod'e."

"I am aware," the other chuckled slightly. "That is why I did not specify them in particular in my instructions to Kote."

"Of course," Ninety-Nine nodded. "And I'm sure you're aware this tips the odds in their favor for sooner rather than later."

"Oh, I am aware," a mischievous light entered the brown orbs. "However, they are both entirely too dense about the situation, and too stubborn for their own good, so I think I'll leave my bet where it is."

"True enough," the older looking male agreed. "Besides, changing your bet now might lead others to believe you have inside information."

"Can't have that, can we," Alpha laughed and patted the other's shoulder. "I'm sure I'll see you some time tomorrow, Ninety-Nine."

With that, he exited the room and returned to the class he was supposed to be overseeing.

888888

The rest of Kote's day progressed in a similar fashion as his morning had, with no chance to get his squad up to speed on the new development. He had hoped to discretely slip away during second-meal to at least let Rex know of the plans he'd made with Alpha, but when he noticed the entirety of Gamma Squad leave the mess en masse, decided against it. He did manage, however, to send a quick message to Kix on their secure comm informing him of the eminent inspection and his plans to take Harry for the night, knowing the medic would pass it on.

When he was finally released from his training for the day, he gathered a tray of food from the mess and then made his way to med bay three. He was not surprised to find Kix already there or that he had brought food for his patients. Though, it did seem that they were surprised by his presence.

"Kote!" Rex's head shot up as he entered the room. "I thought you weren't going to be here until after late-meal."

"Figured I could eat here just as well as in the mess," he shrugged. "Besides, there're a few things I need to discuss with you before we go our separate ways."

"Well, I'm done here," Kix turned away from the pair on the cot. "I'm going to go find my own meal. You," he pointed at Kote, "make sure those two eat." He then turned his gaze to the blond, "I'll see you later."

As the door closed behind the medic, the two men shared a look before turning away to hide their amusement. They both reached for their forks and began to eat, more for something to do than anything else.

"So," Rex said after a few moments, "what did you want to talk about?"

"Right," Kote paused his eating, "I spoke with Alpha."

"And?" the blond prodded, while trying to coax the boy next to him to try the food.

"He doesn't believe he belongs to any of the trainers," he sighed. "He has also agreed to help. He'll come up with a schedule for his training, but it's up to us to keep him secret and safe."

"Of course he would," the other's eyes rolled in mild annoyance. "But I suppose it makes sense. He can't take him because he and the other alphas are more in the trainers' and Prime's eye. What else did he say?"

"That's it," the brunet shook his head. "Except for the warning about the inspection."

"I see."

"Though, we should probably finish and head out," he continued. "I still have to talk to my squad, and you need to get back to yours."

"Wait, you haven't told your squad yet?" an incredulous brow inched up the other's face. "Why not? That's not like you, Kote."

"Opportunity," he gave a small shrug, as his gaze drifted to the child, who had yet to take more than a bite. "Harry, you need to eat. We need to leave soon and Kix will have my head if you don't."

"But it gwoss," he obediently placed a bite into his mouth, but the grimace that crossed his features clearly punctuated his words. "I mean, it has awl da tex're and fwavor o' shit."

"What are you eating, Rex?" Kote barely managed to keep a straight face.

"Standard fare from the mess," the blond scoffed. "Kix brought it, but I guarantee it's no different than yours. He's just picky."

"I not picky," Harry pouted. "I ate bedder wen Dudwey was on a diet, and even Mione's mushwooms tasted bedder den dis."

"Who's Dudley?" a frown marred the brunet's features. "And Mione?"

"I no know," the youngling shook his head. "But I not tinking abou' dat. It makes my head huwt. Den Kix wiwl come back an give me anoder shot, and I don' want dat."

"Okay," Kote held up his hands placatingly. "But you still need to eat, otherwise Kix will come back and give you another shot anyway, after he's kicked my ass into next week, and Rex's."

Green eyes rolled in annoyance as he began actually eating, though his facial expressions continued to orchestrate his displeasure. Trying valiantly to ignore the display, the other two went back to their own meals. After about fifteen minutes, they were all finished.

"Well," Rex sighed and pushed to his feet, "I guess I'll take these back to the mess," he gathered the empty trays. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kote. Good night, Harry."

"Night," the boy grumbled as he watched the blond leave.

"Alright, Harry," the brunet pushed to his feet and lifted the boy into his arms, "we need to go too."

"Otay," he buried his face in the man's shoulder.

Now Kote might not be the most social among his brothers, but he was good at reading people. Hell, he was command class, he had to be. It was actually part of his training. But even without all that, he would be able to tell there was something wrong with the youngling.

"Harry," he said quietly as he reached a hand up and began carding his fingers through the messy locks, "what's wrong?"

"Why can' I go wif Rex?" the boy mumbled into his shoulder.

"Well," he took a deep breath, not stopping his ministrations, "right now, we're not sure how you got here, or why you're here, but while you are here, Rex and I are going to do everything in our power to keep you safe and hidden. That means you're going to have to stay with me sometimes. Tonight is one of those nights."

"But I wike Rex," Harry turned his head, revealing his pout. "He feews safe an' comforbwe."

"Oh?" Kote frowned, unsure what he meant by that. "And I don't? You do realize Rex and I are exactly the same, right?"

He knew this wasn't true, but it was the company line. All the clones could tell each other apart, but to outsiders it wasn't easy, some would say even impossible. Even the Kaminoians and Prime couldn't keep them all straight, though they did better than most. There really was no way that this youngling, who had been with them less than a day, could be able to tell them apart.

"Dat not twue," his face scrunched up indignantly. "You migh' wook awike but you very diffwent. An' it not jus' cause Rex has bwond hair. You awl feew diffwent. You, Kix, Jesse, Waxer, Hawk, you're awl diffwent."

"You know, you're pretty smart, kid," he ruffled the hair beneath his hand affectionately. "But do you think you can settle for me right now, to keep you safe?"

"I s'pose," Harry gave a long suffering sigh.

"Good," Kote let a small smile pull at the corners of his lips. "Now, how about we get you introduced to my squad?"

The pair rounded a corner into a small room where four men were busy changing. As Kote entered the room fully, all eyes turned to him and then zeroed in on the bundle in his arms.

"Come on, Kote," Wolffe's eyes rolled in fond exasperation, "you can't just steal another cadet."

"I've never stolen a cadet," he shot back. "So it would be impossible for me to steal another one. Besides," he gave a cursory glance around, even though he knew there was no one besides his squad present, "he's not a cadet."

"What're you…?" the other cut off as one bright green eye peeked out from Kote's shoulder.

"He's woud," Harry said quietly.

"He is," Kote agreed. "That's Wolffe. Over there are Ponds, Bly, and Gree. This is my squad. Guys, this is Harry. He'll be staying with us off and on for the foreseeable future."

"This is what you wanted to talk to us about, wasn't it?" Ponds asked with a raised brow.

"Yeah," he shifted the boy into a more comfortable position on his hip.

"And how does Rex factor into this?" Gree frowned.

"He was found in Rex's bunk last night," Kote sighed. "It's now up to us to protect him."

"So, wait," Wolffe held up his hand, "you're telling us Rex wasn't laid up because of some injury he got during extra training yesterday?"

"No, Kix gave him medical leave to keep an eye on him for the day."

"That's why you weren't worried about Rex," Bly nodded as he leaned against the wall.

"And that's why you skipped early training," Ponds added.

"Hold up," Wolffe cut in. "Let me get this straight, you and Rex decided to adopt a decommission and are now going to drag all of us down with you into this insanity? Look, you and Rex want to play happy family, fine, just keep us out of it. I don't feel like being reconditioned or decommissioned myself."

"Wolffe!" Ponds scolded as the other two shifted uncomfortably.

"He's not a clone," Kote's voice was quiet, but it held an edge of steel. "We don't know where he came from, but Alpha doesn't believe he's one of the trainers', and if he was one of the long necks' projects you know they would've locked this place down already. So you can help or not, Wolffe, that is up to you. But if you tell anyone about this, you'll answer to me."

The other's eyes narrowed, as he pushed to his feet and he moved into Kote's personal space, "You may be Alpha and Prime's favorite, but you don't scare me, Kote."

"No!" Harry's cry cut across the room as he held his hand out to Wolffe's chest, who took several stumbling steps backward as a look of surprised wariness crossed his features. "You don' tweaten Cody. You have a pwobwem wif me, you take it up wif me. Got it?"

Green bore into brown as the two stared each other down. The other three tensed instinctively, ready to spring into action if necessary. It wasn't in any of their natures, especially not Wolffe's, to hurt a child, but he was already riled up so there was no telling what he would do. Finally, after several tense moments, Wolffe threw his head back and laughed.

"I like you, kid," he reached over and ruffled the messy locks. "You got guts, I'll give you that. Fine, Kote, I'll help you and Rex with your foundling. Oh, and Kote," he paused as he moved passed him toward the bunks, "we all expect to be invited to the wedding."

The other three's laughter drowned out his incoherent sputtering as they headed for their sleeping pods as well, leaving Kote alone to his and the child's preparations for bed.

Ammie: So there it is, the meeting of Kote's squad. Please don't be too hard on me for the training schedule I came up with, as things are so convoluted in the Star Wars verse, I'm making this shit up. Also, I have Jango playing a bigger role in the training than in cannon, but hey, it's my story. Anyway, please let me know what you think.